<\/p>\n
The sheer volume of material in circulation about the state of the game of golf could wear a guy out. But it\u2019s also occasionally annoying to note that most of it fails to suggest even obliquely that we<\/em> might bear some responsibility for the industry\u2019s instability. A modest example from the weekend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n My buddy Marty and I decided to get in one more round for the season, as the forecast was for a prolonged cold snap and Marty was shortly to undergo a bit of shoulder arthroscopy. We chose Columbia Country Club, a private course that, like many in the upstate New York area and elsewhere, has lately opened up to fairly reasonable ($50) daily fee traffic. It\u2019s a pleasant, old-style layout dating to 1919, a fairly strenuous but manageable walk.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When we arrived at the deserted club, the pro, Marc, politely informed us that we wouldn\u2019t be able to play as long as I wore blue jeans. As I explained to Marc, I have absolutely no problem with the dress-code concept and have cheerfully acceded to regulations \u2013 a couple of them downright goofy \u2013 at clubs around the world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So great is my reverence for proper protocol, in fact, that I had already consulted Columbia\u2019s website for dress code restrictions. This being a Friday, I was delighted to learn that \u201cwe are currently conducting a trial relaxing the dress policy for Thursdays and Fridays, and jeans are permitted\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yeah, said Marc, but you didn\u2019t read the fine print, which stipulates that the clubhouse, also deserted, was the only<\/em> place where blue jeans would be allowed. (Actually, it\u2019s ambiguous, as the only<\/em> could also refer to Thursdays and Fridays.) Marc remained adamant.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ordinarily, we\u2019d probably just go elsewhere, but many local courses are already closed; and since Marty\u2019s place is a 10-minute drive, we decided on a quick costume change instead. I didn\u2019t request clown pants or \u201chigh waters,\u201d but that\u2019s what I got from the slightly shorter Marty. We laughed about it and evinced no derogatory comments from the two other twosomes we glimpsed briefly during our round.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n No doubt some will come down on the side of \u201ca matter of principle\u201d in the rigid adherence to the club\u2019s dress code. My view is that common sense is surely a principle \u2013 or at least a virtue \u2013 more worthy of aspiration. Plus, it has the advantage of promoting collateral goals like attracting and accommodating more people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not to over-synthesize an admittedly trivial example, the incident begs a question that seems to resonate through much of the talk about \u201cgrowing the game\u201d: Is that really what we want or something we just say in acknowledging our financial concerns?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n # # #<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"